Series I. Publisher Richard Durrell Files, 1973-1983, inclusive

Richard Durrell joined Time Inc. as a circulation newsstand representative following graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1948. He worked in advertising for both Life and Time magazines, including a position as Life's Assistant Publisher. He was instrumental in the launch of People Magazine as its founding publisher in 1974. The magazine was launched as a newsstand-only publication on March 4, 1974, and exceeded sales of one million copies per issue by July 1974 due to Durrell creating a distribution network within Time Inc., known as Time Distribution Service (TDS). TDS worked with and eventually replaced Select Magazines Inc., Time Inc.'s previous distributor, and focused on market research to improve sales tactics. He was a vice president of Time Inc. and retired from the company as People publisher in 1984.

Citations:

Creswell, Julie. "Richard J. Durrell, First Publisher of People Magazine, Dies at 82." The New York Times. March 08, 2008. Accessed November 27, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/business/media/08durrell.html.

Elson, Robert T., Curtis Prendergast, and Geoffrey Colvin. Time Inc.; the Intimate History of a Publishing Enterprise, 1960-1980. New York: Atheneum, 1985.